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Early Medieval Period Characteristics Political = fragmentation Importance of land as political power – Ownership gave that person power to assess taxes on occupants – System of Feudalism developed as a result

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Feudalism System of power based on exchange of land for service – King promises land – Lords promises services King owned all land King gave land to vassals – Vassal = follower of king (counts, barons, etc) In return for land, lords gave military service to their king Lords gave land to THEIR vassals (knights), who promised them service in return Serfs worked land, paid taxes

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Feudalism Nobility controlled all land by building castles – Allowed nobleman to control land, collect taxes, retreat to safety – Power of central states - especially tax collection – became power of castle owner – Ex – Charlemagne died & nobility kept power of taxation for themselves – But by 1000, those same counts, barons had given away that power to THEIR vassals

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Problems with Feudalism Once land is transferred it is almost impossible to get back Tended to decentralize a state because land was divided equally among surviving sons – Power of state devolved to local warlords – By 1000, though, further subdivision was impractical – reform needed!

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Feudalism Reforms Introduction of Primogeniture – Eldest son inherited all land from father – Younger brothers got nothing (became fortune hunters) – Led to re-centralization and large group of unemployed warriors in Europe